Ubisoft has revealed that it plans to release Nintendo DS versions of its forthcoming King Kong and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory titles this year - in addition to previously announced DS titles Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Bomberman DS, Rayman DS, Sprung and Asphalt Urban GT. The DS version of King Kong will be released this Christmas to coincide with the cinematic release of Peter Jackson's film project of the same name on 14th December. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory will also appear later this year. [More]

As Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson announces plans to launch King Kong the movie this year, sales of animated series Kong are picking up, with the latest deal in Spain. Radio Television Castilla-La Mancha has acquired the series, a copro between D'Ocon Films, BKN, Ellipsanime and M6. The series sees King Kong brought back to life after a scientist mixes the creature's DNA with her own grandson's. [More]

It might be hard to believe, but multi-award winning composers Howard Shore and Hans Zimmer have been short listed as one hit wonders. But it's not as bad as it sounds. Joining them on the list are other celebrated classical composers such as Holst and Pachelbel. The list was compiled to show all the composers who only had one entry in last year's Classic FM Hall of Fame Top 300, or as they put it 'the composers who are only remembered by one great work.' [More]

Tim from Lumière Industries writes: Thought you'd like to know about an event on interest which my website, "The Lumière Reader", is involved with. Called "Semi-Permanent", the conference is Australasia's largest design and creative event, taking place first in Auckland, NZ (March 12), and then the following weekend in Sydney, Australia (March 18/19). [More]

I never thought I'd see more details on a set than what I heard and read about on the Edoras set, but I've got to say this; New York blows me away!! Grant Major, Dan Hennah and others show us the very very VERY minute details that go into the massive set. From the fake cow carcass molds (from real cows) to the set dressings in a shop that may not even make it into the film. There is one thing I want the entire production to know...I want one of those fake chickens behind Grant! Someone send me one!! [QT6 240x132px 6Mb] [QT4 320x176px 12Mb] [QT6 480x264px 15Mb] [Bit Torrents!]

It is time to come together and talk Kong! The chatroom has been a great success, however some people have been popping in at odd hours when there is no one to chat with. To that end I've devised a KONG Chat time, a set time and day of the week for all Kong chatters to meet and have fun! The weekly Kong Chat will be Thursday nights at 8:30PM Eastern Standard Time. World times are below, if you need more help click here. [Kong Java Chat Room] [irc chat settings: SERVER www.theonering.net ROOM: #kongisking.net]

The movie The Ring was one of the surprise hits of the year when it came out in 2002. Now the sequel, The Ring Two, starring Naomi Watts, will be shown at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival. The festival lineup was released Monday. [More]

There are three new DVD releases that you may find interesting this week. First off we have the very tallJack Black lending his voice to a talking shark in Shark Tale. Then for you 'Big Monster' fanatics there are two great Godzilla films out today; Godzilla VS. Mechagodzilla II & Godzilla Vs. The Sea Monster! Take a look! [More]

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 4, 2005--Profiles in History: 10 Feet Tall, 4 Feet Wide King Kong Movie Poster/Standee -- The Largest and Only One of Its Kind -- Leads a Mammoth Group of 350+ Items of Film & TV Memorabilia to Be Auctioned. Other Legendary Items Include Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West Hat from the Wizard of Oz, Adam West's Batman Costume and Darth Vader's Cape and Jedi Robe from Star Wars to Be Sold by Joseph Maddalena's Profiles in History. The largest movie poster/standee ever printed for the 1933 classic, King Kong, a die-cut, upright 6-sheet showing the heroic gorilla raging atop the Empire State Building, clutching actress Faye Wray in one massive paw and crushing a biplane with the other, will top one of the best collections of rarities ever offered by Joseph Maddalena's Profiles in History, the number one company in the world for live and simultaneous Internet auction, to be held at Profiles in History's Beverly Hills offices on Friday, April 1, 2005. [More]

Compared with his work as an Oscar-winning director and the filmmaker behind the most popular trilogy in movie history, Peter Jackson's first attempt to remake King Kong was by any measure amateurish. Jackson painted the Manhattan skyline on an old bedsheet, constructed the Empire State Building out of cardboard and pinched his mother's shawl to craft the giant gorilla's fur. It didn't look like much, Jackson admits, but then again he was 13 years old. [More]

As Peter uses as much caffeine to stay awake during those late night shoots as he can, we get to see everything we wanted to know about those amazing vintage cars on the New York set. Take a look at the work that goes into repairing these old classics for use today (including the big switch from right hand to left hand steering wheels!). Sounds like fun! [QT6 240x132px 6Mb] [QT4 320x176px 10Mb] [QT6 480x264px 13Mb] [Bit Torrents!]

Gandalf writes: After a late night adventure I can report that night filming is well under way! As with other locations before Christmas, the lights for the New York set are clearly visible from the other side of town and I couldn't help but be attracted to them. It would seem I'm not the only interested fan as several others were also viewing (and listening to) the action. Only part of the set was being used, namely the street with what was the Burlesque house but is now the Princess Theatre. We watched extras take place in the street ready for action which followed the sounding of a loud horn. The scene was probably one when Kong is loose, as a truck with a huge spotlight pointing to the sky was being driven down a neighboring street after which people could be seen running followed by very loud machine guns (did I mention LOUD?!). Not only did the machine guns sound awesome, but bright muzzle flashes were clearly visible. This scene was repeated several times, and listening carefully I could actually hear (most likely PJ) yell "CUT" before the loud horn was blasted again. Interestingly, the street they were shooting in (both cameras and guns) appeared to have snow lying around... Much of the remainder of the set lay in subdued darkness, with the name "Exchange Buffet" visible on one building next to the "Strand" on the street the tram runs along. Check out these photos of the set by night, then download a small video with the machine guns and listen carefully for "CUT" before the horn... [More] [AVI Movie]

Eleven years have passed since the Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company engaged in the obvious monkey business of “King Kong, or Gorilla of My Dreams.” So much has changed since then; most notably, the company isn't even in Martin City now but rather in the abandoned Carrousel Park space in the mostly abandoned Metcalf South shopping center in Overland Park. [More]